Yankees and White Sox make long awaited blockbuster deal

The Yankees made two upgrades to their team following last night’s win over the Twins. In a deal with the White Sox, the team improved in both the bullpen and at third base. But, there is a cost attached.

The Yankees, according to multiple reports and this one in the in the New York Daily News engaged in a 7-player trade with the White Sox, adding two relievers to their beleaguered bullpen and a veteran third baseman:

the Yankees acquired 1B/3B Todd Frazier — the Toms River, N.J. Little League legend — and relievers David Robertson, the former Bomber, and Tommy Kahnle from Chicago in a massive haul.Outfielder Blake Rutherford, the Yankees’ third-ranked prospect, left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin, their 19th ranked prospect, struggling reliever Tyler Clippard and fellow outfield prospect Tito Polo will all be headed to the White Sox.

The deal, which is likely to draw criticism from Yankees fans who implored Brian Cashman to not trade away the farm in exchange for a chance to make a run in this year’s playoffs. He didn’t go that far, but Cashman did include what everyone considers to be “Blue Chip” in Rutherford.

Following the game, Joe Girardi was very upbeat, telling the News:

“It should tell them, ‘Hey, we’re in this,’ ” Joe Girardi responded when asked what type of message this trade should send to his team following its 6-3 victory over the Twins. “And we need to continue to play and play hard and play better than what we’ve done. But it should be a pick me up in there in a sense, that, ‘Hey, there’s a lot of people who believe in this club.’ ”

Making the arrangements

The immediate problem facing Girardi, though, is to rearrange his bullpen to accommodate the addition of Robertson and Kahnle that allows for a blend with Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman.

Betances received credit for a hold last night, and Chapman picked up a save. But both still give you the heebie-jeebies watching them pitch.

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Betances allowed a hit and a walk in his one inning stint and three first-pitch strikes to only one of six batters. Chapman completed his inning allowing a walk and a wild pitch. Concerns about Chapman continue to build within the Yankees organization. Most of the attention is centered around the disappearance of his blow-away fast ball.

The addition of Frazier gives Girardi some flexibility at third base. Chase Headley continues to do a credible job there, but his lack of power this year makes Frazier a likely insert into the Yankees lineup when Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, or Clint Frazier is being rested.

Robertson is a familiar face in New York, and he pitched well for the Yankees before opting out and signing a big contract with the White Sox as a free agent. It remains to be seen, however, where he’ll fit in with the others.

The deal in a nutshell

Cashman, once again, gets high marks. He had to give up something to get something, and he gave up something potentially big in Rutherford.

But the keyword, as always, is potential as it refers to the Yankees prospect. Girardi nailed it when he spoke about the need to help the team now. And based on what he said (above), he had a comfortable night’s sleep in Minneapolis last night.

Next: Cashman will trade a Blue-Chip prospect today

Is this the “push over the top” deal for the Yankees? Probably not. But that one is coming, or at least should be coming, and soon Yankees fans could be seeing Sonny Gray wearing the pinstripes.